Question of First Medicare Bill (benefits, claim, monthly, take)

[Newporttom]

Medicare started for me last month. Just got the first bill and it was for 5 months ($609). They can do an ACH and take it out monthly but that takes 6-8 weeks to set up.

They sent me an email that said I can do Online Bill Pay where I set it up thru my Bank. What they didn't say was whether I can just send them a payment for June and July and then set up monthly payments (instead of the $609)

Anyone know?

[AZgarden]

Can't you just call them and find out??

[bigbear99]

bill for what?

FYI I found calling to be useless because you mostly can't get through and when you do, you are on hold for an hour.

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by bigbear99

bill for what?

Medicare Part B premium - which normally is deducted from the monthly SS benefit - except in cases where enrollee is not collecting SS or the SS benefit is too small to cover the premium.

[justNancy]

Originally Posted by Newporttom

Medicare started for me last month. Just got the first bill and it was for 5 months ($609). They can do an ACH and take it out monthly but that takes 6-8 weeks to set up.

They sent me an email that said I can do Online Bill Pay where I set it up thru my Bank. What they didn't say was whether I can just send them a payment for June and July and then set up monthly payments (instead of the $609)

Anyone know?

The best thing to always do is call 1-800-Medicare. In fact, I just spoke to a customer service rep yesterday about a claim. The representatives are very helpful, but it often takes 6 to 8 weeks to set up ACH as you stated.

Medicare Part B costs $121.80 for new beneficiaries in 2016. (I'm one) My birthday was in March and my benefits began March 1. Since Soc Sec is paid in arrears, IIRC the first deduction was from my April check.

I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but there is an Initial Enrollment Period which covers 7 months, 3 months before your birth month, your birth month, and the next 3 months. Why didn't you take care of this matter 2 or 3 months ago? Then you would have everything settled by now.

[url]https://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/paying-parts-a-and-b/pay-parts-a-and-b-premiums.html[/url]

[Newporttom]

I set up the online bill pay. I paid the 5 month bill. I have money set aside to pay the bill and it will accrue enough to pay it when the next one is due.

I didn't set up the Initial enrollment early because I was already covered by insurance that covered me till 1 June. I would have been paying extra for nothing.

[justNancy]

Originally Posted by Newporttom

I didn't set up the Initial enrollment early because I was already covered by insurance that covered me till 1 June. I would have been paying extra for nothing.

Sorry. I should have realized there was a good reason.